Honour ensures pilot remembered

[Kyt]

http://www.newsshopper.co.uk/news/fe...remembered.php

A ceremony commemorating the death of a 21-year-old pilot is part of a series ensuring Second World War heroes stay in the memory. LINDA PIPER reports.

A YOUNG fighter pilot who died in combat less than two months after gaining his pilot's wings, has been honoured.

Sergeant Trevor Oldfield is the third pilot whose death has been commemorated by the Shoreham Aircraft Museum.

This latest memorial was unveiled in Hesketh Park, Dartford, 67 years to the day after the 21-year-old pilot crashed his Spitfire there.

The museum, based in Shoreham Village High Street and run by volunteers, is dedicated to keeping alive the story of Second World War air crews.

It has been fundraising for the past two years, with the help of many surviving Battle of Britain pilots, to pay for memorials to six pilots who crashed within a 10-mile radius of the museum.

Museum volunteers and representatives from Dartford Council, the Royal British Legion, the air cadets and the Royal Air Force Association gathered in the park last week for a thanksgiving and dedication service.

There was also a flypast by a Spitfire.

Despite determined efforts, none of Sgt Oldfield's family could be traced.

The only personal information known about him is he is buried at St Stephen's churchyard in Chertsey, Surrey.

Sgt Oldfield had joined the Royal Auxilliary Air Force in 1938, serving as an aircrafthand/air gunner.

He then retrained as an armourer and, on the outbreak of war, was called up in August 1939.

Sgt Oldfield was soon recommended for pilot training and after being trained in August 1940, he was posted to the 92 Ganic Squadron at Biggin Hill in mid-September.

He flew his first operational sortie on the afternoon of September 21, but saw no action.

On September 26, he was up in the air again stalking a Dornier, which his pilot officer, Allan Wright, claimed was shot down.

Early the following morning he was scrambled from Biggin Hill with his squadron and involved in fierce fighting in which two of the squadron were killed.

The same afternoon they were scrambled again, and during the dogfight over Canterbury, Sgt Oldfield shot down his first German plane and saw its pilot parachute to safety.

The squadron was only on the ground for 90 minutes before being asked to take off again at 2.45pm to intercept a formation of German planes.

But Sgt Oldfield never returned from the mission. He had crashed in Hesketh Park at around 3.15pm.

Witnesses said he stayed with his aircraft to avoid hitting nearby houses.

The service last week was conducted by the Rev Clive Gilbert, vicar of St Alban's Church, Dartford, and speakers included Dartford Council leader Councillor Jeremy Kite.

The museum is open on Sundays from 10am to 5pm and closes for the winter on October 21.

[Kyt]

Name: OLDFIELD, TREVOR GUEST
Initials: T G
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Sergeant (Pilot)
Regiment/Service: Royal Air Force (Auxiliary Air Force)
Unit Text: 92 Sqdn.
Date of Death: 27/09/1940
Service No: 819030
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: Plot F. Grave 314.
Cemetery: CHERTSEY (ST. STEPHEN'S) CHURCH BURIAL GROUND

His Spitfire I (R6622) was shot down by a Bf 109 over Dartford.

[spidge]

Good to see the memory of these youngsters are finally enshrined with pride.